Vacuum-producing apparatus



Sept. 11', 1923.

1. E. EWING ET AL VACUUM PRODUCING APPARATUS Filed June as. 1922 2 sheets-sheet 1 QW mfg- 70225 man M Sept. 11, 1923.

|. E. EWING ET AL YACUUM PRODUCING APPARATUS Filed June 25', 1922 2 Sheets-Shet 2 l VE/VTOR5 M614 7 v M6 6" ATTORN Y Patented Sept. 11, 1923.

PATENT OFFICE,

IRA E. EWING HARRY HINERMAN, OF WHEELIN'G, WEST VIRG-INIA.

VACUUM-PRODUCING APPARATUS.

Application filed June 23, 1922. Serial No. 570,414. a

a device in which water pressure is utilized for creating a vacuum for the operation of such apparatus.

The chief object of the lnventlon 1s to provide a simple and efliicient device adapted for the creation and maintenance of the vacuum necessary or required in suction cleaning apparatus and in which a plurality of streams or sheets of water under pressure from an ordinary water service line or pipe constitutes the suction producing medium.

A further object is to provide a vacuum producing mechanism embodying means of adjustment whereby absolute control of the suction force exerted and regulation of the volume thereof may be conveniently and accurately effected.

A still further object is to provide an apparatus of the character mentioned which has the dust tubes, or cleaning tubes, located in such relation to the water inlet or inlets thereof that wetting of said tubes through the return or splashing of water is effectually prevented, thereby obviating the collection in said tubes of adhering masses of dirt, dust, paper and other matter which would interfere withproper operation of the apparatus.

Another important object within the contemplation of the invention is the provision,

in a vacuum producing device of the charac- Figure 3 is an enlarged section of the I lower pgrtion of the nozzle; and- Figure 4 is a partial section on line 44, Fig. 2.

Referring to said drawings, 1 indicates a gradually tapered, or funnel-shaped, casing whlch is adapted for connection at its reduced lower end 1 with a drain pipe or movably mounted upon the upper end of said casing, as by attaching bolts 2, is a cap or cover 3, and extending centrally through said cover is a vertically disposed waterinlet pipe 4 which is adapted for connection with a water-service line or pipe (not shown), a sultable couphng member 5 havmg a slde-openmg 5 being mounted upon with a pipe leading to a drain or sewer. Re-

the outer end of said inlet pipe. Said inlet pipe is exteriorly' threaded throughout a suitable distance from its outer'end and is adjustable in said cover 3 for positioning its lower end with respect to the casing.

Directed vertically through the coupling member 5 and thence axially through. the

inlet pipe 4 is a vertically adjustable stem 6 whichcarries upon its lower end a conical, or bell-shaped, valve 7. Said stem is adapted for adjustment in said member 5 to position said conical valve relative to a similarly shaped seat 8 formed in'the' lower end of said pipe 4, whereby the flow of waterpast said valve is controlled. As is manifest, water is discharged between the valve 7 and the seat 8 in the form of acirculardownwardly and outwardly inclined sheet and in a volume regulated by adjustment of said valve. This circular sheetof water strikes the walls of the casing 1 at a distance above the lower end of the latter regulated .by adjustment of the pipe 4 for producing a partial vacuum whereby a strong suction is exerted for drawing dust, dirt and like matter through the cleaner nozzle, one or'more cleaning tubes 9 leading from such cleaner nozzle opening into theinterior of said casing through the cover 3, as shown.

Threaded upon the pipe 4 beneath the cover 3 is the upper horizontal end 10 of respect to said pipe, is formed in the lower end of said shell,and adjustable with respect to said seat is a valve 12 which closely embraces and is vertically slidable on said pipe. Said valve 12 is supported by a plurality of suspension rods 13 which are vertically movable through the cover 3 and shell-head 10 glands or stufling boxes, as 14, being mounted in said cover about said rods, as shown. The upper end of each rod 13 carries a flanged head 15 which is seated within a suitable channel 16 formed in the under portion of an adjusting nut 17 which is threaded pon the pipe 14:.

One or more water inlet pipes 18 directed through the cover 3 and shell-head 10 admit water to the interior of the shell 10,

and this water is thence discharged in a downwardly and outwardly inclined circular sheet between the valve 12 and its seat 11 for impinging upon the walls ot he casing l at a distance above the impinging level of the stream or sheet which issues past the valve 7.

As is apparent, adjustment ot the valve 12 in relation to its seat 11 is effected through rotation of the nut 17 which is operatively engaged, as atoresaid, with the heads 15 of the rods 18.

The two independently adjustable circular streams or sheets of water introduced within the casing under pressure are adapted to conjointly create a vacuum which may be regulated to produce the required suction through the cleaning tubes. Manitestly, one of the valves, as the valve 7, may be adjusted to regulate the velocity or pressure of air in the cleaning tubes consequent to the production of the vacuum, and the other valve may be adjusted to control the volume of the vacuum produced.

The inlet tube 6 with its control valve 7 constitutes a nozzle, as does also the shell 10 with its control valve 12.

It will be evident that. due to the location of the discharge ends of the cleaning tubes 9 at a higher level than the discharge orifices of the vacuum-creating nozzle, all danger of the water backing up into said cleaning tubes as a result of the vacuum or suction produced is positively eliminated,

' the vacuum producing actionobviously ceasing to exist when the level of the water within the casing reaches that of said dis charge orifices. Further, it will be seen that water is discharged from the nozzles at such a great distance below said cleaning tubes that splashing thereof into the latter is pre vented.

What is claimed is 1. A vacuum producing apparatus comprising a funnel-like casing having its upper end closed and having. its reduced lower end adapted for connection with a drain, an. axially disposed water-inlet nozzle comprising a vertical pipe and a valve adjustable with respect to the discharge end of said pipe and adapted to direct water against the walls of said casing in the form of a circular sheet, means for introducing a second sheet of water into impinging relation to said casing walls at a level above that of the first sheet, and a cleaning tube opening into said casing above the discharge level of said water introducing means.

2. A vacuum producing apparatus comprising a funnel-like casing having a cover, a cleaning tuloe opening into the upper end of said casing, and means for introducing water into said casing in the form .01? a plurality oi concentric sheets.

A vacuum producing apparatus comprising a funnel-like casing having a closed upper end, a cleaning tube opening into the upper end of said casing, and a plurality of valve-controlled water inlets adapted to admit water to said casing in concentric sheets.

i. A vacuum producing apparatus comprising a tunnel-like casing having a closed upper end, a cleaning tube opening into the upper end of said casing, and a plurality of water inlets adapted to admit water to said casing in concentric sheets, and independently adjustable valves controlling said inlets.

5. A vacuum producing apparatus comprising a funnel-like casing having its upper end closed and having its reduced lower end adapted for connection with a drain, an axially disposed water-inlet nozzle comprising a vertical .pipe and a valve adjustable with respect to the discharge end of said pipe and adapted to direct water against the walls of said casing in the form of a circular sheet. a second nozzle encircling the first-mentioned nozzle and adapted to direct a second circular sheet of water against the casing walls at a level above that of the first sheet, said second nozzle comprising ashell having a discharge opening and a valve adjustable with respect to said opening, means for conducting water to the interior of said shell. and a cleaning tube opening into said casing above the level of the discharge ends of said nozzles.

6. A vacuum producing apparatus comprising a funnel-like casing having its upper end closed and having its reduced lower end adapted for connection with a drain. a plurality of concentrically related nozzles located within said casing and embodying adjustable valves, said nozzles being adapted to direct water against the walls of said casing in concentric sheets, and a cleaning tube opening into said casing above said nozzles.

7 A vacuum producing apparatus comprising a funnel-like casing having its upper end closed and having its reduced lower end adapted for connection with a drain, a plurality of concentrically related nozzles lowith respect to he discharge end of said pipe and adapted to direct water against the walls of said casing in the form of a circular sheet, a second nozzle encircling the firstmentioned nozzle and adapted to direct a second circular sheet of water against the casing walls at a level above that of the first sheet, said second nozzle comprising a shell having a discharge opening and a valve adjustable with respect to said opening, rods extending vertically through the upper end of said easing into supporting relation to the valve of said second nozzle, means for elevating and lowering said rods, and a cleaning tube opening into said casing above the level of said nozzles.

9. A vacuum producing apparatus com prising a funnel-like casing having its upper end closed and having its reduced lower end adapted for connection with a drain, an axially disposed water-inlet nozzle comprising a vertical pipe anda valve adjustable with respect to the discharge end of said pipe and adapted to direct the water against the walls of said casing in the form of a circular sheet, a second nozzle encircling the first-mentioned nozzle and adapted to direct a second circular sheet of water against the casing walls at a level above that of the first sheet, said second nozzle comprising a shell having a discharge opening and a valve adjustable with respect to said opening, rods extending vertically through the upper end of said casing into supporting relation to the valve of said second nozzle, means threaded upon the pipe of the first nozzle outside the casing and having connection with said rods whereby the latter may be adjusted vertically, and a cleaning tube opening into said casing above the level ofsaid nozzles.

10. A vacuum producing apparatus comprising a funnel-like casing, a cover for the upper end of said casing, a cleaning tube opening into said casing through said cover, a water inlet pipe disposed in axial relation to said casing, said pipe being adjustably mounted in said cover, a valve seat formed in the lower end of said pipe, a valve-stem extended axially through said pipe, a valve carried by said stem and adapted to be shifted with respect to said seat by adjustment of said stem, a hollow member located within said casing in encircling relation to said pipe, said member having its lower end open and provided with avalve seat, means admittin water to the interior of said member, a valve embracing said pipe and shiftable on the latter with respect to the lastmentioned valve seat, vertical rods extending through said cover into supporting relation to the last mentioned valve, and means for simultaneously elevating and lowering said rods to efiect adjustment of said valve.

In testimony whereof we afiix our signaturesin presence of two witnesses.

IRA E. EWING. HARRY HINERMAN.

Witnesses:

G. 0. SMITH, H. E. DUNLAP. 

